Mop head assembly



9, 1955 H. w. MONELLEY, SR, ETAL 3,216,039

MOP HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 20; 1963 FIG. 3

HG. l

INVENTORS. JOHNECAMPION HENRY w. McNELLEY, SR.

BY W

FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent Ofi lice 3,216,039 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 3,216,039MOP HEAD ASSEMBLY Henry W. McNelley, Sn, Atlanta, Ga., and John E.Campion, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to American Associated Companies, acorporation of Georgia Filed Sept. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 310,276 6 Claims.(Cl. 15-229) The present invention relates generally to mops and moreparticularly to improvements in a tar mop having a plurality ofring-shaped mop heads each employing a unique fiber clamping structure.

Mops subjected to service in tarring or cementing roofs and walls aresubject to rapid wear which requires frequent replacement of the mophead to maintain a sufficiency of mop yarn. Such mops, when coated withhot tar, are heavy and difiicult to use. If the yarn or fiber is notsecurely fastened the weight of the tar will pull the yarn out of themop head. Shrinkage caused by the tar will also pull fibers away fromunsecure clamping means. The resultant disadvantages are that unclampedfiber strands remain in or must be individually picked from the tarcoating being applied and the yarn or head must be more frequentlyreplaced. A further disadvantage of conventional tar mops is thetendency to lopsidedness caused by uneven or unsecure clamping andslipping and bunching of the yarn.

Conventional mops have attempted to avoid the above outlineddifficulties by employing readily replaceable ring-shaped mop heads inwhich the ring like yarn support is slipped over a cylindrical clampingmember on the mop handle to add or replace a head. But such ring-shapedmop heads have required complex and expensive structure to firmly clampthe yarn to the support ing ring. In one example each bunch of yarn hasbeen knotted about a portion of the ring support to ensure firmsecurement and such knotting involves time consuming, hand labor greatlyincreasing the cost of fabrication. Other ring-shaped mop heads areknown which are incapable of stacking in required number to form asuitably full mop because the yarn is so secured as to obstruct thecentral opening of the ring support and prevents the insertiontherethrough of a tubular head clamping member. Still other ring-shapedmop heads are known in which the yarn is insecurely fastened or unevenlyspaced so as to render the assembled mop lopsided and heavy on one side.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a mop headand holder therefor, so constructed as to obviate the above describeddisadvantages of conventional mops.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a mop head andholder in which one or more heads are readily assembled and readilyreplaceable once the fibers of a mop head are Worn.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mop head structurewhich is extremely simple and inexpensive to fabricate and yet whichwill firmly secure the yarn in the mop head.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mop head holder andplurality of stacked annular heads in each of which the fibers areevenly distributed circumferentially of the head so as to provide a wellbalanced mop and prevent bunching of the yarns and resultantlopsidedness.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mop head assemblyincluding inner and outer, telescoping tubular members having flangesbetween which are clamped a plurality of stacked heads, each headcomprising a fiat, thin annulus to which the mop fibers are securelyclamped, the stacked heads occupying a minimum of clamping space, thecentral opening of each annulus being unobstructed by the fibers so asto permit ready sliding of the head on the inner tubular member.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invent-ionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the following description of a specificembodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mop constructed in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one annular yarn supportmember shown inverted and illustrating in full and phantom lines,respectively, a clamped and as yet unclamped skein of yarn; and

FIG. 3 is an axial vertical section of the mop head holding assemblyshowing a stack of annular heads assembled and locked together.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG.1 a preferred embodiment of the invent-ion as comprising a handle 10 towhich is secured a mop head holding assembly generally indicated by thenumeral 12 which in turn clamps one or more annular mop heads 14 holdingmop yarn 16.

As best seen in FIG. 2, each mop head 14 comprises merely an annularsupport member 20 and a plurality of skeins 30 of fibers 16 clamped tothe support member by integral tabs thereon. FIG. 2 illustrates the ring20 as it is preferably inverted during assembly of the fibers. Desirablythe ring 20 is formed as a flat, thin stamping of metal, or othersuitable material, with a central opening 22 and normally down turnedperipheral tabs 24 equally spaced about the circumference of the ring.Eight tabs 24 are shown, for example, it being apparent that a greateror lesser number may be used. A similar series of equally spaced, innertabs 26 is punched downwardly from the fiat ring 20 leaving cut outopenings 28. The tabs 26 are desirably, though not necessarily shorterin length than the tabs 24 and are radially aligned therewith. Eightbunches or skeins 30 of fibers are adapted to be clamped to ring 20equally spaced thereabout and clamped thereto by the pairs of tabs 24,26. Each skein 30 is doubled to form a loop which is placed around a tab24 and against the underside (upper side as viewed in FIG. '2) of thering 20, the ends of the skein falling downwardly over the outerperiphery of the ring. The tab 24 is then bent inwardly and fiat againstskein 30 to clamp it to the ring. The shorter tab 26 is then bent flatto cover and hold tab 24 locked in clamping position. In clamping eachskein of fibers the outer tab 24 is bent to cover the entire loop andextends from the peripheral edge of the ring nearly to the correspondingtab 26. When the tab 26 is bent against tab 24 the loop is firmlyencased by the two tabs which form a rectangular enclosure completelysurrounding the skein loop. The mop yarn may be formed of glass, wool,plastic, cotton or any other suitable fibers. When all eight of theskeins 30 are placed adjacent the ring and clamped by the tabs 24, 26,each skein is firmly secured to the underside of the ring with noportion of any skein obstructing the central opening 22. The skeins areequally spaced around the ring 20 so that an even distribution of themop fibers is obtained when the ring is inverted as in normal use.

The mop head holding assembly 12, as best shown in FIG. 3, comprises apair of telescoping tubes and 42, the latter closely fitting within theformer and in mutual supporting relation for relative sliding movement.The lower ends of the tubes are provided with outwardly projectingradial flanges 44 and 46 which may be welded, soldered, or otherwisesecured to the bottom of its respective tube. The radial flanges 44 and46 may each be provided with an internal, strengthening and rigidifyingshoulders 45, 47 respectively, having a diameter intermediate the innerand outer diameters of its respective flange. Shoulder 47 engages andbuttresses the tabs 26 of the lowermost ring 20 when a number of ringsare inverted and stacked by slipping inner tube 42 through the alignedopenings 22 of the rings. The tubular members 40, 42 may be lockedtogether in any desired ring clamping position by means of a screw 48threaded into a holding nut on outer tube 40 into engagement with innertube 42. Screw 48 has a butterfly wing head '50 for manipulation. Theouter diameters of the flanges 44 and 46 are large enough to secure aplurality of stacked mop heads 14 clamped between the flanges, while theoutside diameter of inner tube 42 is small enough to fit within thecentral opening 22 of the mop head with a close sliding fit.

To assemble one or more mop heads 14 to the handle 10, it is simplynecessary to turn the wing 50 suificiently to release, lower and removethe inner tube 42 from the outer tube 40. A mop head 14 may then beslipped over the top of tube 42 and allowed to fall and rest upon theflange 46. Preferably a completed mop will include five, or more, of theindividual mop heads 14 each of which will he slipped over the innertube and released to fall into a stack supported by the flange 46. Theinner tube is then reinserted into the outer tube and pushed upwardlyuntil the stack of mop heads 14 is firmly clamped between the flanges 44and 46, whereupon the wing screw 48 is tightened to securely fasten theinner and outer tubular members together.

When one or more of the lower mop heads 14 is worn sufliciently torequire replacement, the tubes 40 and 42 may be again separated byreleasing the screw 48. The stack of mop heads is then lifted andremoved trom the inner tube. The worn mop head at the bottom isdiscarded or repaired. The remaining mop heads may then be replaced onthe inner tube 42 and one or more replacement heads may be added at thetop of the stack. The mop may then be re-assembled, in the mannerdescribed above, by merely inserting the inner tube into the outer tubeand retightening screw 48.

It will be apparent from the above description that the improved mopprovides an adequate quantity of fibers evenly distributed about theperipheries of the annular support rings especially when the latter arestacked with adjacent rings having their tabs 24 ofiset. A balanced,rather than lopsided mop is provided in which the fibers are very firmlyclamped to prevent slippage and bunching during use. Each skein 30 ofeach head 14 is firmly clamped in the smallest possible vertical spaceand in such a way as to not obstruct the assembly or disassembly of asupport ring 20 from the handle holding assembly 12. Thus, even thoughthe fibers may be coated with sticky tarry materials, worn heads 14, oradditional or replacement heads, may be easily and quickly removed fromand added to the tubular holding assembly. The mop head and holdingassembly structures are both extremely simple and inexpensive toproduce, so that the costs of the mop and replacement heads arematerially lessened.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shownand described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mop head assembly comprising an inner member and an outer tubularmember telescopically slideable on said inner member and constructed andarranged to be in mutual supporting engagement, each of said membersterminating at one end in an outwardly extending, radial flange, meansfor releasably locking said members together in selected telescopicrelation, and at least one mop head clamped between said flanges, saidmop head including a flat annulus whose central aperture receives saidinner member and having a peripheral series of dependent tabs, an innerseries of dependent tabs, each of said tabs of the inner series beingradially aligned with a tab of the peripheral series, and a plurality ofskeins of fibers, each of said skeins of fibers comprises a plurality offiber strands doubled to form a loop, said loops being laid in a circleagainst the underside of said fiat annulus and clamped thereto between apair of said radially aligned tabs, said inner and outer members beingcylindrical, said annulus having an inner diameter slightly larger thanthe outer diameter of said inner member, and said skeins of fibers beingclamped against the underside of the flat annulus without obstructingthe central opening of the annulus leaving the annulus free to slideover said inner member to permit stacking of a plurality of said mopheads in a minimum vertical space between the flanges of said members,said flange on the inner member having an upstanding annular shoulderengaging and buttressing said inner series of tabs on the mop head.

2. A mop head assembly comprising an inner member and an outer tubularmember telescopically slideable on said inner member and constructed andarranged to be in mutual supporting engagement, each of said membersterminating at one end in an outwardly extending, radial flange, meansfor releasably locking said members together in selected telescopicrelation, and at least one mop head clamped between said flanges, saidmap head including an annulus whose central aperture receives said innermember, said annulus having a peripheral series of outer tabs projectingfrom one surface, a series of inner tabs, each tab radially aligned withand spaced inwardly of an outer tab, and a plurality of skeins of fiberseach comprising a plurality of fiber strands doubled to form a loop,said loops being disposed in a circle against said one surface of theannulus and clamped thereto by a radially aligned pair of inner andouter tabs, one of said tabs being bent to engage and underlie the skeinand the other tab being bent to engage and underlie said one tab so asto lock it in clamping engagement with the skein.

3. A replaceable mop head for stacked assembly on a holder comprising,an annulus having a peripheral series of out-er tabs protruding from onesurface of the annulus, a series of inner tabs disposed inwardly of saidouter tabs and also protruding from the said one surface of the annulus,and a plurality of fiber skeins, each skein being clamped between aninner and outer tab bent to directly engage said skein with one taboverlying the other to retain it in clamping engagement.

4. A replaceable mop head as described in claim 3 wherein each saidinner tab is radially aligned with an outer tab to form a pair ofclamping tabs between which a skein is clamped.

5. A replaceable mop head according to claim 4 wherein the tabs of oneof said series are longer than the tabs of said other series, saidlonger tabs being bent to engage and overlie the skein and the shortertabs being bent to engage and overlie the longer tabs to lock them inclamping engagement.

6. A replaceable mop head according to claim 5 wherein said annulus is aflat ring shaped plate adapted when used to lie in a plane substantiallyparallel to a Working surface to be mopped, and each of said skeinscomprises a plurality of elongated fibers doubled to form a loop, eachloop being clamped between a pair of said tabs and the ends of saidloops being draped to depend over the outer edge of the annulus and fallsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of said annulus.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 260,558 7/82Fowler 15181 X 1,430,988 10/22 Harris 15-147 1,488,478 4/24 Donahoe15143 2,002,370 5/35 Frost 15181 2,582,076 1/52 Sheppard 15-230142,815,523 12/57 Fink 15-151 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

1. A MOP HEAD ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN INNER MEMBER AND AN OUTER TUBULARMEMBER TELESCOPICALLY SLIDEABLE ON SAID INNER MEMBER AND CONSTRUCTED ANDARRANGED TO BE IN MUTUAL SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT, EACH OF SAID MEMBERSTERMINATING AT ONE END IN AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING, RADIAL FLANGE, MEANSFOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER IN SELECTED TELESCOPICRELATION, AND AT LEAST ONE MOP HEAD CLAMPED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, SAIDMOP HEAD INCLUDING A FLAT ANNULUS WHOSE CENTRAL APERTURE RECEIVES SAIDINNER MEMBER AND HAVING A PERIPHERAL SERIES OF DEPENDENT TABS, AN INNERSERIES OF DEPENDENT TABS, EACH OF SAID TABS OF THE INNER SERIES BEINGRADIALLY ALIGNED WITH A TAB OF THE PERIPHERAL SERIES, AND A PLURALITY OFSKEINS OF FIBERS, EACH OF SAID SKEINS OF FIBERS COMPRISES A PLURALITY OFFIBER STRANDS DOUBLED TO FORM A LOOP, SAID LOOPS BEING LAID IN A CIRCLEAGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID FLAT ANNULUS AND CLAMPED THERETO BETWEEN APAIR OF SAID RADIALLY ALIGNED TABS, SAID INNER AND OUTER MEMBERS BEINGCYLINDRICAL, SAID ANNULUS HAVING AN INNER DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LARGER THANTHE OUTER DIAMETER OF SAID INNER MEMBER, AND SAID SKEINS OF FIBERS BEINGCLAMPED AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FLAT ANNULUS WITHOUT OBSTRUCTINGTHE CENTRAL OPENING OF THE ANNULUS LEAVING THE ANNULUS FREE TO SLIDEOVER SAID INNER MEMBER TO PERMIT STACKING OF A PLURALITY OF SAID MOPHEADS IN A MINIMUM VERTICAL SPACE BETWEEN THE FLANGES OF SAID MEMBERS,SAID FLANGE ON THE INNER MEMBER HAVING AN UPSTANDING ANNULAR SHOULDERENGAGING AND BUTTRESSING SAID INNER SERIES OF TABS ON THE MOP HEAD.